Toy gun



.1. A. METZGER TOY GUN Filed Dec. 5, 1931 Dec. 27, 1932.

Yprovide means for retaining rubber bands Patented Dec. 27, 1932 UNITED STATES JOSEPH A. METZGER, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK TOY GUN Application led December This invention relates to improvements in toy guns, and has more particularly refer ence to a gun for shooting rubber or other stretchable bands, also cardboard squares or the like.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive toy gun of the type mentioned, which also has utilitarian features in that the rubber band may be held captive at one end of the gun and utilized for destroying' flies and other insects.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a gun formed wholly of sheet metal, which can be easily stamped and the parts quickly assembled.

A further object of my invention is to provide means whereby the rubber band or bands associated with the gun may be projected under varying tensions so as to drive the bands varying distances.

A. still further object of my invention is to 7 or cardboard or similar dat objects used as projectiles for the gun, captive to the gun so that they can be retrieved from the point from which they are projected.

With the above and other objects in view to appear hereinafter, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, and in the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter describedV and more particularly pointed out in the subjoined claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the gun, showing associated therewith as projectiles, both a cardboard or similar flat object and a rubber band, both being illustrated in the form in which they are used as free projectiles to be recovered for re-use from their place of landing.

Fig. 2 is a. side elevation of a portion of a gun viewed from the side. opposite that shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view of the gun with one of the side members removed, illustrating the parts within and partly within the casing of the gun.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross section taken on line 4 1, Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a detached perspective View of the 5, 1931. Serial No. 579,251.

trigger mechanism, including the control spring for the same and the band release carried thereby.V Y

Fig. 6 is a cross section taken on line 6.6, Fig. 1. ,55

Fig. 7 is a detachedv perspective view of the spring retainer associated with the band-tensioning device.

F ig. 8 is a section taken on line 8--8, Fig. 5.

' Fig. 9 is'a side elevation of thel band-ten- 604 sioning device, sho-wing the rubber band held captive thereto by means of a cord so that it can be retrieved from the position from which it is projected by the gun. Y

Fig. l() is a detached perspective view of 65 the band-tensioning device.

Fig. 11 is aside elevation of the outer end portion of the band-tensioning device showing the manner of holding a rubberor similar band captive thereon when using said band '70v as an instrument of destruction for destroying flies or other insects.

The gun, as stated, is formed in the main of sheet metal stamped to provide two side members 12, 13. both being substantially of 75 channel formation in cross section, and one of smaller dimension than the other so as to fit or nest into the latter; the channels being reversed to provide a rectangular space l/t which serves as the interior of the barrel 15 of the gun. The barrel extends along the greater portion vof the length of the gun, and the side members are shaped at one end to form a hand-grip or stock 16 so that the device approaches in appearance the revolver type of weapon. rlhe formation of the stock and the length of the barrel may, of course, be varied so as to have the appearance of a rifie. However, in the drawing illustrating my invention, the side members are continued rearwardly from the barrel 15, and each provided with a curved downward extension 17 forming the grip or stock of the gun. One of these side members is continued rearwardly in unchanneled or flat form from the inner 95 end of the barrel, and its downward eXtension is also of fiat formation. The other side member is continued rearwardly` in flat form, and its downward extension 17 has va marginal flange 18 extending at one side from its 100 inner end downwardly, thence around the lower rounded end thereof, and thence upwardly in spaced relation to the barrel 15 to provide a trigger opening 19. rlhe side member 12 is provided with clips 20 in the form of lugs which are bent over the other side member and clip or hold the two side members in spacedrelation. These clips prevent separation of the side members. The side members are therefore spaced apart from one end of the gun tothe other, and directly opposite the trigger opening a link opening 21 is provided.

|The trigger opening 19 extends from the inner flanged portion 13 of the hand-grip or stock to the inner end of the lower flanges on the barrel portion of the gun, and the link opening 21 extends from the outer flanged portion of thehand-grip or stock to the up )er flanges on the barrel 1cortion of the ruin.

O l r:

Betveen the side members and in the space between these openings the trigger mechanism and the release mechanism are arranged.

. One of the side members, in the drawing member 13, hasan upstanding flange 22 above the hand-grip or stock, and secured to the other side member 12, directly opposite, is a comparatively thin resilient clamp memb-er 23; rivets 24, 25 being passed through said clamp member and through the spaced side members to fasten said clamp member to the body portion of the gun; and it may here be stated that these rivets are also utilized as pivots for the trigger mechanism and release mechanism, respectively.

rlh-e clamp member 23 has its upper portion flexedinwardly, as at 26, so as to overhang the upper edge of the body portion of the gun and normally it is in contact with the upstanding flange 22. Between this clamp member and the flange 23, a cardboard or other thin object 27 may be placed, said obi ect, preferably square, being utilized as a projectile and being firmly clamped by the flexible clamp member 23 when positioned in place, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 6.

The'trigger 28 is positioned between the two side members and is also formed of sheet metal. It is shaped in any desired form and consists of a single piece of metal doubled upon itself, as at 29, to provide two spaced members 30, 31; m-ember 30 being considerably larger than member 31 and having a tapered upper end, near the apex of which a pivot opening 32 is formed. This pivot opening is adapted to hav-ethe rivet 24 passed therethrough, the rivet serving as a pivot for the trigger. Member 30 also has a ta.- pered or narrowed portion at its lower end provided with a laterally-directed curved lug 33 forming a spring seat into which one end of a U-shaped trigger control-spring 34 is positioned which extends lengthwise within the hand-grip or stock and has a laterally-directed terminal 35 at its other end adapted to be entered in an opening formed in the flange 13 of the grip or stock.

The springaetaining lug 33 also serves as a stop for the trigger in its forward or pro jecting movement, said lug engaging the flange at the front edge of the grip or stock 17, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. T he free outer Y portion of member 31 of said trigger is narrowed and terminates in a hook or loop 36 adapted to be passed through a pivot hole 3'? formed in one end of a link 38, which eX tends out through the link opening 21 in the hand-.grip or stock, and at its outer end, this link is provided with a pivot hole 39.

40 designates a band release which is constructed of a strip of metal curved upon itself centrally between its ends to provide a substantially cylindrical portion on sleeve 41, opposite ends of the strip from which this band releasev formed being directed in parallel lines rom said cylindrical portion or sleeve 41 to form ears42 which are spaced apart and between which the outer end of the link 38 is entered. One of these ears 42 has its lower margin al portion notched at its base, as at 43, said notch being formed by slitting the metal and utilizing the same as a pivot lug 44 which is continued on the circular line of the cylindrical portion or sleeve and passed through the opening 39 at the outer end of he link 38 and also through the opposite ear 42 wh'ch is notched, as at 45 for the purpose. The band release is therefore provided with an integral pivot for connection to the link, and the ears 42 of said band release are provided with pivot openings 46 through which the other rivet is passed, thus the rivet-s 24 and 25 serve, respectively, as pivots for the rigger and the band release.

lliithin the barrel portion of the gun `is a tension element 47, also formed of sheet metal bent upon itself to providea substantial bar of U-formation in cross section, slidably disposed wthin the barrel. The lower open edge of 'this bar is provided with a series of notches 43, which maybe referred to as adjustment notches, and anyone of which is adapt-ed to be engaged by a retainer spring 49 formed of wirr` bent centrally between its ends to iorm ay cross bar 50 and. two side bars 51: the latter being spaced apart from the cross bar 50 a distance along their lengths and then brought in contact with each other, as at 52, the contacting portions of the spring terminating in angular portions 53.

The spaced-apart portions ofthe side members 51 ot this spring lie at opposite sides of the barrel, and are gradually directed underneath the barrel where they are clamped by an inwardly-directedflange 54 formed on the side member 13 of the barrel, this clamp being directed underneath the contacting portion of the spring while the angular portions 53 of the spring are directed inwardly into the barrelr and clamped between the side members thereof. n

In order that the contacting portions of the springs be held together, the inwardlydirected flange 54 is provided with an upwardly-directed retainer lug 55 which bears against one of the side members 52 of the spring. The contacting portions of these springs are therefore confined in four directions, thus providing a secure means of fastening the retainer spring in position.

The side members 12 and 13 of the barrel are also notched, as kat 56, to enable the cross bar 51 of the spring to enter any desired notch in the tension device or bar 47. It will be clear that when the engaging end of the retainer spring is moved downwardly, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 3, the tension bar may be moved inwardly or outwardly, depending on the extent of projection desired for said bar from the forward or outer end of the barrel.

The tension bar 47 is provided with an oblique slot 57 near its outer end, the inclination of said slot being preferably downwardly and rearwardly, and between said slot and the outer end of the bar, an opening 58 is formed, the outer end of the bar being preferably curved, as at 59.

In F 1 I have shown a rubber band (i0.

stretched over the barrel andstock of the gun and around the band release 40, or trip as it may be called, which release is normally in a position in which its axis is at right angles to the barrel 15. The cylindrical surface of said release or tripprovides a substantial retention bearing for the rubber band, which is also passed around the outer end of the tension bar 47. When so positioned. this band is placed under tension and the degree of tension depends on the size of the band and the degree of projection of the tension bar. As the pull on this band is at right angles to the axis of the band release or trip sleeve 41, there is no possibility of the band becoming released until the position of said band release or trip is changed, and this requires the actuation of the trigger' 28, which, upon being pressed inwardly through the trigger opening, causes the band release or trip sleeve to be swung on the rivet 25 serving as its p'vot, due to the connection thereof with said trigger through the medium of the link 38. lVhe'i the trigger is actuated, the trip sleeve 4-.1 will be swung from the position in full lines to that shown in dotted lines, or beyond, depending on the degree of pressure exerted on the trigger'. However, the upward and forward inclination of the trip sleeve will result in the rubber band riding over. said sleeve and becoming released, with the result that it will be projected through the airunder considerable force.

If desired to hold the band captive and yet enable it to be used as a projectile, it may In some instances a child will iind amusementin the destruction of iiies and other insects, in which case the device may serve as a fly swatter. In such cases the rubber band is stretched along a short region so as to reduce the thickness of the same, and at this region entered into the oblique slot 57 near .the outer end of the tension bar. When releasing the strain on the band after .entering it in said slot, the rubber will expand and be retained within the slot under suchexpansion. The band may-be stretched along the barrel and stock of the gun, as already described, `and when the trigger is actuated, will snap forward, but beheld captive in the slot of the tension bar. `The end of the band passed around the band release or trip sleeve will snap forward under considerable force and can be accurately directed against any spot, such as may be occupied byu fly. This will result in instant destruction of the fly, or other insect.

yIt Will be clear from the foregoing, that provision is also made for projecting cardboard squares Vor other thin projectiles retained in position abovethe stock of the gun and, while in Fig. 1 suchv a projectile is illustrated at 27 and the rubber band is shown stretched around the outer extremity of the gun, it is to be understood that this band, when'using such projectiles, will be held captive by entering the same in the slot 57 thus upon release of the rubber band from the band release or trip sleeve 41, it will be forcibly snapped against theinner edge of the projectile 27 and the latter projected under force a considerable distance.

It may here -be stated that for indoor use the cardboardsquare, or other thin projectile, mayalso be held captive, a string being secured through the same and fastened in the opening 58 in substantially the same manner as the rubber band illustrated in Fig. 9 of the drawing. l/Vhen bothl the rubber band and the cardboard, or similar projectile, are held captive, no damage can be done although the toy may be used indoors, as the extent to which the cardboard, or other similar device,

n is projected will easily be governed by the length of the string holding it captive.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A toy gun `formed of sheet metal having two side members connected together to forma barrel and a grip or stock, said members having portions channel-shaped and reversed one-within the other to form said barrel, one ofsaid side members having retainer lugs at the outer edges of the flanges of its channeled port-ions to retain the two side members in nested condition.

2. A toy gun formed of sheet material having a barrel and a stock and an integral flange extending upwardly from said stock at one side of the gun, a flexible retainer element at the other side of the gun co-acting with said flange to retain-a flat projectile between the two, said flexible retainer element being fastened to the gun by'means of two spacedapart rivets extending through the gun, a band-release pivotally arranged on the gun and having a portion extending thereinto and for which one of said rivets serves as a pivot,vsaid band-release serving with the outer end of the barrel to retain a rubber band-under tension on the gun, a trigger within said gun for which the other of said rivets serves as a pivot, and a link connecting said trigger with said band-release, said trigger serving to actuate saidband-release through the medium ofsaid link so as to forcibly engage the band stretched around the gun against the flat projectile.

3. A toy gun, comprising a barrel and a stock formed of spaced-apart side members, a triggerformed of a piece of metal bent upon itself to provide two members spaced apart, one of said members being pivotally connected at Aits upper end and having its lower end provided with a c urved spring-retainer lug, the other member' being provided at its free end with an integral hook, a band-'release havinga cylindrical portion and being pivotally connected between the sides of the gun, a link connecting said band-release with said trigger and connected tothe hook thereof and having one end positioned between the spaced members of said trigger, and a substantially U-shaped spring within the stock of the gun having one end engaging the curved lug of said trigger and its other end fastened into the stock.

A toy gun, comprising'a barrel-and a stock having spaced-apart side members, a trigger formed of a piece of metal bent upon itself to provide two members'spaced apart, one vof said members being pivotallv connected at its upper end and having its lower end provided with a spring-retainer lug, the other member being provided at its free end with an integral hook, a band-release formed of a strip ot' metal bent to provide a cylindrical portion and parallel flanges extending from one side of said cylindrical portion, said bandrelease having an integral pivot, a link having holes at opposite ends, one of which is adapted to receive the hook of said trigger and the other the integral pivot of said bandrclease, said band-release being pivotally secured between the sides of said gun and having' the pivot thereof extending through its parallel flanges, said spring-retainer lug serving as a trigger stop, and a U-shaped spring within the stock of the gun having one end engaging said spring-retainer lug and its other end fastened-into the wall of the stock.

5. A toy gun, comprising a barrel and a steelt having spaced-apart side members, a trigger pivotally arranged within said stock between said side members, a band-release formed of a strip of met-al bent between its ends into cylindrical form and having parallel spaced-apart anges extending from one side thereof, one of said flanges being'notched and tne metal of said notch being continued to form a portion of the curved wall of-said t drical portion, said continued portion sei ing as a pivot, and a link connected to said trigger and having an opening at one end threugh which the pivot formed on said bandrelease is passed, said linl; being positioned betr-:een the parallel spaced-apart 1flanges of said band-release and said flanges being pivotally retained between the side walls of the stock. i

t3. A toy gun, comprising a barrel and a stoel: having spiked-apart side members, a i eer pivotally arranged within said stock "een said side members, a band-release formed of a strip of metal bent between its ends into cylindrical form and having a pair of parallelspaced-apart flanges extending from one side thereof, one of said flanges being notched adjacent said cylindrical portion and the other flange having a portion of the in El thereof bent inwardly to form a continuation of the wall of said cylindrical portion and to enter the notch of the first-mentioned portion, also to serve as a pivot, a'link entering said band-release and being positiene-d between the ianges thereof, said link having pivotalconnection at one end with said trigger and having an opening at its other end irongh which the pivot of said band-release is passed, and a pivot secured in the sine members of the gun and passed through the iianges of said band-release near their upper edges.

'.7. A toy gun having a barrel and a stock, trigger mechanism, a band-release arranged partly within said stock and projecting partly therefrom, means connecting said trigger mechanism with said band-release, and a tension a r adjustably arranged within said barrel, said tension bar being formed of a strip of metal bent upon itself to form two spacedapart members and being provided with a series of spaced-apart notches near its lower edge, said barrel having a notch formed along its lower edge, a retainer spring secured to said barrel and having a cross member adapted to enter the notch of said barrel and any one of the notches in said tension bar. Y

In testimony whereof, l afix my signature.

JOSEPH A. METZGER.

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